consequences of calorie restriction page

[weird fish]

When I began paying attention to my diet about a year ago, I was eating about 1500 calories, unrestricted. To lose weight I cut to about 1200 daily calories, sometimes more like 1000. Between then and now I lost and regained the same 10 pounds like four times and it seems like the only thing I can do to lose weight is cut to 1000 calories (and I'm not even sure it's working). Btw, I'm female, 18 years old, 5'5". EDIT: And 143 pounds, aiming for somewhere in the neighborhood of 125.

So onto the point of this thread: can I expect what CW tells me will happen? That this is going to break my metabolism and I'm going to go into 'starvation mode' and 'cling to fat reserves' and end up gaining it all back and then some? Can we attribute such a response to calorie restriction or to the micronutrient deficiencies that are likely to come along with it? What are the mechanisms for a lowered metabolism and rebound weight gain?

[quelsen]

waaaaaaa

[loafingcactus]

At your age and gender, it is especially important not to be doing this because of osteoporosis. Right now is when your bones build that need to last the rest of your life. If you have access, I recommend getting an appointment with a nutritionist. Yes, she will likely give you CW advice, but right now you have bigger fish to fry.

[quelsen]

At your age and gender, it is especially important not to be doing this because of osteoporosis. Right now is when your bones build that need to last the rest of your life. If you have access, I recommend getting an appointment with a nutritionist. Yes, she will likely give you CW advice, but right now you have bigger fish to fry.

OP doesnt give any information, how can we give her any answers?

[loafingcactus]

1000 calories = professional intervention. No more info needed.

[quelsen]

1000 calories = professional intervention. No more info needed.

ah i see.

forgive me. I was on 800 for 20 years so i dont tend to see that kind of stuff.

[weird fish]

OP doesnt give any information, how can we give her any answers?

My questions are pretty general and apply to everyone, my personal information is hardly relevant here.

What I'm looking for is not for someone to tell me I need to be eating X amount of calories (like a nutritionist almost certainly would) but information that will help me to figure out how little is too little and why.

[wozz]

I don't understand why you have hard caloric numbers that everyone needs to follow... I would be restricting my calories and lose weight if I eat 2800 calories per day. Some people are much smaller and less active than I am and would be gaining a couple pounds a week eating as much as I do.

I think you need more info before you say 1000 calories a day indicates need for professional help.

[gunnk]

Weird Fish: First, I do recommend that you read the book (The Primal Blueprint, that is). It has tons of good information for you.

Calculate your calories needs (even though not all calories are created equal!): http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ That will give you some of the basic knowledge you're seeking.

Good luck!

[Savage_]

1500 calories and you wanted to LOSE weight?!! do you not have a very active lifestyle?

I reccomend you work out your bmi like posted above and work from there.

It might help if you post your current weight in order for people to offer advice.